LIGHT HARD-WEARING SOCK FOR MEN

(Foot measures 10½ inches)

4 Ounces of 4-Ply Fingering

4 Steel Needles No. 12

Cast on 60 stitches (20 on each needle), rib in rows of knit 2, purl 2, or knit 3, purl 1, for 4 inches. Knit plain until the leg measures 11 inches including the ribbing. Divide the stitches so that one needle contains 30 stitches with 15 on each of the other 2 needles.

To Make Heel—Work forward and backward along the needle with the greatest number of stitches, slip 1, purl 1. Every row is the same, knit 16 rows and finish along the inside row. To turn the heel flap. Begin on an outside row. Slip 1, knit 11, * knit 2 together, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit plain to end of row * then purl along the inside row. Outside Row. Slip 1, knit 10 and repeat * to *. Continue knitting the inside and outside rows, knitting 1 less after the slip one in each outside row until there are 812 stitches on the needle. Finish along an inside row. To pick up the sides of the Heel Flap. Pick up and knit the inner loops of the chain at the left side of the flap, adding these to the 12 already on the heel needle.

Knit along the front of the sock, working the stitches on to one needle ready for the instep. Pick up and knit the inner loops of the chain at the right-hand side of the flap, and take off half of the 12 heel stitches on to this needle, dividing the stitches evenly on the 2 heel needles. The foot is knitted plain.

Now count the stitches in the whole round. The difference between this number and the number of stitches in a round at the ankle will give the number of stitches to be decreased at the instep. Then divide number of stitches to be decreased by two and this will give the number of rounds in which intakes must be worked.

To work round of instep decreasings. Knit to within 2 stitches of the end of the left-hand heel needle, knit these 2 together. Knit along the instep needle. At the beginning of the right-hand heel slip 1, knit 1, and pull the slipped stitch over the knitted one. Knit to the end of round. Go on decreasing in this way until you have 4 consecutive rounds, then every other round until you have 15 stitches on each heel needle; the number of stitches on the 2 heel needles should be equal to the instep needle. Continue knitting plain rounds until the foot measures 9 inches, then commence to shape the toe, by beginning on the instep needle with 30 stitches.

1st round. * Slip 1, knit 2 together, † slip 1, knit 1; repeat from † to within 3 stitches of the end of the needle, then knit 2 together, knit 1. The 2 back needles with 15 stitches on each are to be treated as one needle and worked as the instep needle, therefore repeat from *. This completes the round.

2nd round. † knit 1, slip 1, repeat from † to end of round, knitting the last stitch.

3rd round. † Slip 1, knit 1, repeat from † to end of round, knitting the last stitch. Repeat from * to the end of third round 3 times. There should be 44 stitches in the round.

Next round. ** Slip 1, knit 2 together; * Slip 1, knit 1; repeat from * to within three of the end of needle, then knit 2 together. Knit 1. Repeat from ** for the working of the two back needles, treating them as one.

Next round. * Knit 1, slip 1; repeat from * to end of round, but knit the last stitch. Repeat from ** till the stitches number 12.

Divide the stitches equally on 2 needles and cast off, darning the end of the wool up and down the side of the toe to make the fastening very secure. Fold the sock along the centre back of leg and press under a heavy weight.

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